101 Ways to Be a Greener Eater

By Leslie

Did you know that Americans toss out nearly 25 percent of their food? Or that between eight and ten percent of the energy usage in the United States is tied up in producing that food? Whether you knew these facts or not, they’re just part of the motivation to start being a greener eater. By watching what you eat, you’ll be reducing the amount of money you need to spend on healthcare, saving the environment and generally enjoying a longer, happier life. If you’re motivated to start eating greener, here are some tips on how to get started.

Starting Small

Not ready to jump into green eating feet first? These baby steps will let you start small and work your way up.

Kick the bottled water habit. Millions of plastic bottles end up in landfills every year. Become a part of the solution by getting a water filter for your faucet and using a metal water bottle instead.

Learn more. Not sure what it takes to go green? Do a little research to learn what you can and become an expert on the subject.

Make coffee at home. Getting coffee out every day not only costs you a pretty penny but also leads to loads of waste. Make it at home instead and reuse the grounds in your garden.

Cut out pre-packaged snacks. They might be convenient, but they’re also wasteful. Buy the bigger size and mete out your snacks into reusable containers instead.

Eat less. Portion sizes are often much too large for what we really need to eat. Eat less and you’ll use less resources and energy.

Slow down. If you’re rushing through meals or eating on-the-go you’re not doing your waistline or the environment any favors. Slow down and enjoy your meals for greener eating.

Eat low on the food chain. What does this mean? It means focusing your eating on fruits and veggies rather than on meat, as this will expose you to fewer toxins.

Skip frozen foods. Those freezers take a lot of energy to keep cold (10 times more than non-frozen), so go for fresh instead.

Always check labels. Some things may seem green, but upon closer inspection really aren’t. Always read the labels to know for sure.

Know what you’re getting. Some foods may be emblazoned with the words "organic" but what that means can vary. Find out from retailers, the package or the company what’s really organic and where your food is coming from.

Avoid certain plastics. They can leech into food and cause cancers and other problems, especially when food is stored or heated in them.

Use a grocery list. This will help to avoid buying unnecessary things at the store, provided you stick to it of course.

Focus on plants. The first place you should head when you go into a store is the produce aisle. Plant food is good for you and requires less energy to produce.

Use water to cook twice. It takes a good deal of energy to boil a pot of water so make the most of it. If you have two things that need to be cooked, use the same water for both. If not, you can always use the water as a natural pest remedy or if you were boiling veggies let it cool and water your plants with it.

Eating Out

Eating out doesn’t have to hurt the environment if you follow some of these simple ideas.

Keep your eye out for recalls. Farm waste has caused the recall of several different types of produce in the past couple of years. Make sure what you’ve bought hasn’t been contaminated by always watching out for recalls.

Meat and Dairy

A lot of energy, land and resources go into producing meat so follow these tips to make sure you’re getting the most environmentally friendly products possible.

Eat less meat. Especially beef, as cows produce methane gas which adds to the greenhouse effect.

Use the whole animal. Instead of simply throwing out the bones and nasty bits of a turkey or chicken, save them and make a stock instead.

Buy wild caught fish. Strange as it may sound, wild caught fish are better than their farmed counterparts, which may be unhealthy and pumped full of chemicals.

Embrace Meatless Monday. This movement encourages even meat eaters to give up eating the stuff at least one night a week.

Check out farmstead cheese. These cheeses, also called artisinal cheeses, are produced on-site at the farm where the cows are milked. As such, it requires less energy for transportation and can be a good alternative for green eating.

Go for local eggs. Local, farm-fresh eggs will not only be tasty, but since the delicate eggs won’t have been transported from a long distance you won’t have to worry about the energy costs of your purchase.

Buy farm direct. When you can, it can help to buy meat directly from farmers. This can often mean buying a large cut, but it can be worth it in energy savings over the long run.

DIY Green Eating

These projects will help you eat greener and can be a fun way to spend an afternoon.

Make your own lunch bag. A cute lunch bag will encourage you to bring your lunch with you and can be made from old fabrics you already have around the house.

Create meal plans. This will help ensure you’re getting the nutrition you need while also reducing food waste.

Stop eating when you’re full. The leftovers can be had for lunch and your digestive system (and your overall health) will appreciate the smaller meals.

Go for nutrient dense foods. You may be able to eat less if you eat better. These foods are often not only better for you but for the environment as well.

Other Foods

Here you’ll find a collection of things you should know when shopping for foods of all kinds that can turn your table into a more sustainable one.

Find fair trade coffee. This will help ensure that it has been handled with consideration for the workers and the environment.

Buy in bulk. Bulk foods use less packaging and can be cheaper, healthier and greener.

Drink boxed wine. While boxed wines have the reputation of being, well, awful, these days that simply isn’t the case. Many great wines are found in boxes, which are better for the environment as they are not as fragile as their bottled counterparts.

Look for other green alcohols. Wine, beer and other alcohols are all available in green or organic versions that can be found in just about any natural foods store.

Avoid additives. They claim to add flavor and keep food fresher, but they also fill your body with chemicals you simply don’t need.

Buy the real deal. For instance, go for butter instead of margarine. Yes, it’s an animal product – but it can be better for the environment and your health when used in moderation. Of course, that also depends on the type of margarine, so do your research.

Cut back on sweets and snacks. These are often heavily processed, packaged and advertised. Make your own instead if you’re really craving something.